Piano



Oct. 12, 1965 Filed June 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l uvvav TOR JOACH/M FRANCO/s ESTEVA A 7'7'ORNEVS J. F, ESTEVA 3,211,040

PIANO O 12, 1965 J. F. ESTVEVA 3,211,040

PIANO Filed June 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v I/E/VTOR JoAcH/M FRANCO/s ESTEl A J. F. ESTEVA Oct. 12, 1965 PIANO 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1963 /v l E/VTOR fwd A TTORNE Vs @Jb W JOACH/M FRANCO/5 ESTEl/A United States Patent 3,211,040 PIANO Joachim F. Esteva, 22 Avenue tles Avions, Toulouse, France Filed June 5, 1963, Ser. No. 285,628 Claims priority, application France, June 12, 1962,

7 Claims. (c1. 84-236) tion, a smaller number of components and easier adjustment.

These various objects as well as further objects which become readily apparent from the following descriptive text are achieved in accordance with the present invention by virtue of the fact that the piano action is mounted beneath the keyboard.

In a preferred form of embodiment, said piano action comprises a double repetition which is obtained without the need for a double escapement. The escapement is applied on the nose of the hammer shaft and comprises an elastic device, the tension of which can preferably be regulated, and which is capable of acting on the hammer a second time for the purpose of producing a very rapid repetition when, after a note has been struck for a first time, the players finger is raised very slightly from the key.

In accordance with another form of embodiment which can be employed either alone or in combination with any one of the forms of embodiment which have been described above, the soundboard is suspended, and so designed that when the strings are not under tension, the said soundboard is fiat, but when tension is applied on the strings, the soundboard is bowed so as to take the exact shape of the bridge.

Further characteristic features of the invention will be brought out by the description which follows below, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of n-on-limitative example, and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are vertical cross-sections which show the piano action in the rest position and in the striking position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross-section showing the soundboard;

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse cross-section which also shows the soundboard.

There can be seen in the form of embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the normal key 1 which is provided with its counterweight 2 and which produces action on the shaft 3 of the hammer 4 by means of a mechanism which will be described below.

The shaft 3 which is pivoted at 5 is extended substantially beyond this point of pivotal movement so as to carry successively, starting from the end thereof, the hammer check 6, the double escapement abutment 7 and the cushions 8. The abutment 7 is provided with a recess 9 inside which penetrates the extremity of a spring 10, while the other extremity of said spring bears against the end of the escapement 11 so as to apply this latter against the cushions 8. The screw 12 makes it possible to regulate the tension of the spring 10.

In addition, the key 1 carries the counter-check 13 through the intermediary of the rod 14 which is curved as required.

The key 1 is also fitted with a second rod 15 which carries the pilot 16 at the opposite extremity thereof. It is this pilot which produces action on the escapement 11 through the intermediary of the bridge 17.

FIG. 2 shows the position of these various components at the moment of striking of a note. It can be seen that the spring 10 is compressed and thus returns the hammer 4 onto the string as a result of the application of pressure on the abutment if the key is held down. When the key is very slightly lifted, this tension of the spring 10 permits a rapid repetition of the note.

As soon as the note has been struck by the action of the hammer on the string, the shaft 3 takes up the position which is represented in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 2, which clearly shows the function of the control knob for adjusting the escapement and the adjusting screw on the abutment so as to increase or reduce the power of the spring 10 with respect to the weight of the hammer for the purpose of preventing this latter from rebounding on the string.

This very simple piano action has a further advantage in that it makes it possible to eliminate the double escapement bridge, the fork, the fixed center, the pivotal blade-spring fitting, the spring stirrup of the first escapement bridge, the height-adjustment screw of the double escapement with the fittings, the hammer fork adjustment screw and finally the adjustment screw for the knob which sets the bridge in position on the hammer nose.

Lastly, it will be noted that the arrangement of the piano action beneath the keyboard, whether said action is in accordance or not with that which has just been described, makes it possible after merely detaching the casing 18 to gain access, without further manipulation, to the pilots, to the escapement abutment screw, to the hammer checks and counter-checks and to proceed to the adjustment thereof.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the assembly of the soundboard which is suspended by means of bolts and screws from the bridge. The said soundboard 19 is glued and screwed onto the stringer 20. When the strings are under tension, the soundboard is bowed in all directions as shown in the drawing so as to take the exact shape of the bridge 21 which is coupled to the said soundboard by means of the counter-nut 22 and bolts such as the bolt 23.

A suspended soundboard of this type provides an advantage especially in that the soundboard is braced under uniform load, without being compressed as in a suspended soundboard of the type which is braced by iron bars, when the load to which the bridge is subjected is excessive or, on the contrary, has no relation to the bridge when the load is not sufficient.

This arrangement further makes it possible, as a result of the adjustment of the bolts 23, to facilitate the tuning of the piano either by increasing or reducing the tonality while passing through all the commas and without touching the hitch-pins (or string pegs). of this type, the underface of the bridge is curved while For the purpose of co-operating with a soundboard the upperface thereof remains rectilineal.

Soundboards which are constructed of plywood, however, give instruments a dry and hard tone' The counternut which is placed on the bridge performs the function of damper and overcomes this disadvantage. It is possible to vary the tone of the piano by making use of counternuts which are made of different material (iron, steel, duraluminum, copper, etc.

It will be understood that the mode of execution of the invention which has just been described has been given solely by way of non-limitative example and that any and all detail modifications can be made therein Without consequently departing either from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

3 What I claim is: 1. A piano action, comprising: a piano key; a string;

a hammer shaft supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal, transverse axis disposed directly below said key;

an upwardly extending hammer mounted on said shaft at a point spaced from said axis and disposed below said string so that pivotal movement of said shaft in one direction moves said hammer upwardly into contact with said string and pivotal movement of said shaft in the opposite direction moves said hammer downwardly away from said string;

means including a single escapement and a double repetition device connecting said key to said hammer shaft for effecting pivotal movement of said hammer shaft in response to movement of said key.

2. A piano action according to claim 1, in which the hammer shaft includes an extension extending on the opposite side of said axis from said hammer, and means on said extension for engaging said escapement whereby said hammer can be held against pivotal movement by said escapement.

3. A piano action according to claim 2, in which said extension of said shaft carries an upstanding abutment and resilient means is disposed between and engages both said escapement and said abutment so as to initiate a second striking action when the player has slightly released the key.

4. A piano action according to claim 3, in which said resilient device is a coil spring and including an adjusting screw on said abutment for adjusting the compression of said spring.

5. A piano action according to claim 1, in which the escapement is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the pivot axis of the hammer shaft,

and including a rod movable by the key and engaging said escapement for effecting pivotal movement thereof, and

a curved second rod movable by said key and carrying a counter check.

6. A piano action according to claim 1, including a bridge and a soundboard suspended from the bridge.

7. A piano comprising:

a piano key;

a downwardly extending rod whose upper end engages the under side of said key and whose lower end has a pilot mounted thereon;

a pivotally mounted bridge disposed directly below said key and engaging said pilot and mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;

an escapement pivotally mounted on said bridge and extending downwardly therefrom, said escapement being mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;

a pivotally mounted lever disposed directly below said key and said escapement, said lever being mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said lever having a hammer at the inner end thereof, an abutment adjacent its outer end and a cushion between said abutment and the pivot axis of said lever for engaging said escapement; and

a coil spring engaging and disposed between said escapement and said abutment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,528 9/29 Todd 84236 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 211 ,040 October 12, 1965 Joachim F. Esteva It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, lines 57 to 59, strike out "of this type, the underface of the bridge is curved while For the purpose of co-operating with a soundboard the upperface thereof remains rectilineal." and insert instead For the purpose of co-operating with a soundboard of this type, the underface of the bridge is curved while the upperface thereof remains rectilineal.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of May 1966.

( L) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER- Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PIANO ACTION, COMPRISING: A PIANO KEY; A STRING; A HAMMER SHAFT SUPPORTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL, TRANSVERSE AXIS DISPOSED DIRECTLY BELOW SAID KEY; AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING HAMMER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID AXIS AND DISPOSED BELOW SAID STRING SO THAT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION MOVES SAID HAMMER UPWRDLY INTO CONTACT WITH SAID STRING AND PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MOVES SAID HAMMER DOWNWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID STRING; MEANS INCLUDING A SINGLE ESCAPEMENT AND A DOUBLE REPETITION DEVICE CONNECTING SAID KEY TO SAID HAMMER SHAFT FOR EFFECTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HAMMER SHAFT IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID KEY. 